Type-writing machine.



J. PELBEL. 7 TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1919.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB FELBEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 UNION TYPEWRITER COMPANY,

OF ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed July 12, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB FELBEL, citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Vriting Machines, of which the following is a specifica tion.

' My invent-ion relates to ribbon mechanisms for typewriting machines and its object is to provide devices whereby the use of the ribbon may be dispensed with at will whenever it is desired to write a stencil or mimeograph sheet or for some other purose. p To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, combinations of devices and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

lVhile my invention may be adapted to various styles of writing machines it is herein shown applied to a Monarch typewriter. In the present instance I replace the usual operating lever of the ribbon vibrating mechanism by ajointed two-part operating lever, the two parts being adapted to be maintained in a plurality of predetermined relationships by detent devices. The forward part of the novel operating lever is preferably directly connected With the ribbon carrier or vibrator which may be of the usual form, and by manipulating said carrier the relationship between the two parts of the operating lever may be changed,

so as to alter the normal position of said carrier with respect to the platen. One of the normal positions of the carrier is so far below the printing point that at printing operation the actuating devices will not throw or lift the carrier far enough to cause the ribbon to cover the printing point, and consequently the types will strike over the ribbon and will cooperate directly with the stencil sheet or other work sheet without cont-acting with the ribbon at all.

The present embodiment of my invention will be more specifically described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical front to rear sectional view of a Monarch type- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 571,603.

writing machine embodying my invention, so much only of the machine being shown as is necessary to a clear understanding of said invention. side elevation partly in section of the operating lever and associate devices, the two parts of said lever being shown in a different normal relationship from that repre sented in Fig. 1.

As illustrated in the drawing, the main frame of the machine comprises a base portion 1 from which rise posts 2 supporting a top plate 3. Key levers 1 are fulcrumed on a plate 5 at the rear portion of the base, each key lever being provided with a restoring spring 6 and being connected in the customary way wit-h a type bar (not shown) of the usual or any suitable construct-ion and mounting. The type bars when actuated swing upward and rearward to cooperate with the front of a roller platen 7 diagrammatically illustrated. The platen is non-shiftable and is mounted in a car riage (not shown) which is connected by a band 8 with a spring drum 9. Letter space movements of the carriage are controlled by escapement devices comprising a toothed escapement wheel lO'and feed dogs 11 and 12 which dogs are supported at the top of a pivoted rocker 13 the horizontal arm whereof is connected by a vertical link 14 with a central arm 15 of a universal bar frame, said frame being pivoted at 15 and carrying a universal bar 16 which underlies the key levers 4.

A ribbon 17 is wound on horizontal spools 18, one at each side of the machine above the top plate and forward of the platen. Only the left-hand spool and its train of turning devices is shown in the drawing but it will be understood that the description thereof applies to the other spool and its de vices. Each spool is supported on a vertical shaft 19 which carries at its lower end a beveled pinion 20 meshing with a beveled pinion 21 carried at the forward end of a horizontal shaft 22 which bears in stationary lugs 28 and carries at its rear end a beveled pinion 241. The two pinions 24 are adapted to mesh alternately with associate driving pinions (not shown) secured near the opposite ends of a power or driv ing shaft 26. Said power shaft receives Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rotary motion from the spring drum when the latter turns to draw the carriage in printing direction, the connections between the spring drum and the power shaft comprising intermeshing pinions 27 and 28. The shaft 26 is shiftable endwise to connect with the ribbon spools in alternation. The ribbon feeding or spool turning mechanism above described is like that of the Monarch typewriter but any other suitable ribbon feeding mechanism may be employed if desired.

Midway between the ribbon. spools the ribbon is threaded through a vibratory ribbon carrier or vibrator 29 which is supported on an upright stationary guide 30 and is adapted to slide up and down thereon at printing operations. The lower end or stem of the ribbon carrier is provided with a cross pin 31 which engages in an open-mouthed slot 32 in the forward end of the front arm or part 33 of the operating lever. The rear part 34 of the operating lever is fulcrumed at 35 to a stationary lug 36 depending from the top plate and the two parts 33 and 34 are pivotally connected at 37 forward of the fulcrum 35. It will be noted that the part 34 is a lever of the first order which pivotally supports on its forward arm the other part 33. Above the pivot 37 the arm 341s formed with an extension 38, the upper face whereof is adapted to serve as a stop in cotiperation with the under side of the top plate as hereinafter explained. The extension 38 is provided with a lateral pin 39 which limits the upward movement of the arm 33 about the pivotal center 37. Below the pivot 37 the part 34 has a downward eX tension 40 the lower face whereof is formed with inverted V-notches 41 and 42 which are adapted to be engaged by the free V-shaped end of a spring finger 43 arranged below the arm 33 and having a plate-like forward end 44 which is secured by rivets 45 to the side of the arm 33 in rear of the slot 32. The spring finger and the cooperating notches constitute detent devices which are adapted to maintain the parts 33 and 34 of the operating lever in predetermined normal relationships.

Back of the fulcrum 35 the lever part 34 is provided with, an arcuate slot 46 which is engaged by a lateral pin 47 at the top of a vertically disposed link 48, said link being pivotally connected at its lower end with the arm 15 of the universal bar frame and servingwhen operated from said frame to actuate the operating lever and the ribbon carrier. As is well understood the throw of the operating lever and ribbon carrier will vary according to the position of the pin 47 in the slot 46, increasing as the distance be tween said pin 47 and the fulcrum 35 decreases. A draw spring 49 connects the links 14 and 48 and tends constantly to swing the link 48 rearward and draw the pin 47 to the back of the slot 46. The position of the link 48 and the pin 47 is controlled by suitable devices which preferably include a member 50 slidably mounted on the power shaft 26 and connected to turn with said shaft. The member 50 comprises faces 51, 52 and 53 which are ar ranged in different planes transverse of the shaft 26. Said faces are connected by cam surfaces and are adapted to be brought at will into cooperation with the link 48 by sliding the member 50 along the shaft 26 by suitable manual devices (not shown), but as seen more fully in Patent No. 863,947, granted August 20th, 1907 to George A- Seib. The face 51 is eccentric to the shaft 26 and cooperates with the link 48 to move the pin 47 progressively back and forth in the slot 46, being thus adapted to give a cross feed to the ribbon as it is fed lengthwise. lVhen a plain ribbon or one of uniform character throughout is employed it is customary to make use of the face or eccentric 51. When, however, a bi-color ribbon like 17 or one divided longitudinally into fields having different characteristics is in use, then ordinarily the faces 52 and 53 are brought into play. These faces are concentric with the shaft 26 and the face 51 cooperates with the link 48 to maintain the pin 47 at the forward end of the slot 46 as shown in Fig. 1, thus giving the ribbon vibrator its greatest throw and presenting the lower field thereof to the types at printing operation when the lever parts 33 and 34 are set normally as in Fig. 1. The face 53 is of less diameter than the face 52 and operates through the link 48 and spring 49 to set the pin 47 at the rear of the slot 46, thus giving the ribbon its least extent of movement and presenting the upper ribbon field to the types at printing operation when the parts '33 and 34 start from the normal position shown in Fig. 1.

When the spring 43 is engaged with the notch 41 as in Fig. 1 the parts 33 and 34 are substantially in line with each other and the part 33 maintains the vibrator 29 normally in the Fig. 1 position. This position, as

will be plain from what has been said above,

corresponds substantially with the normal position of the vibrator in the ordinary machine. At printing operation the twopart lever 33, 34 will be vibrated on the fulcrum 35 as a single piece, the detent devices 41, 43 preventing any relative movement of the two parts and 34 about the pivotal center 37.

If at any time it is desired to dispense with the use of the ribbon it is only necessary to press the ribbon carrier downward. This breaks the joint bet-ween the lever parts 33 and 34, swinging the part 33 downward about the pivotal center 37 and disengaging the spring 43 from the notch 41.

During the downward swing of the part 33 the part 34 will be held from moving by the link 48 which, through the pin 47 and slot 46, will prevent upward movement of the rear arm of the part 34. The downward swing of the part 33 may be limited by the engagement of the under edge thereof with the bottom of the slot 54 in the front plate 55 through which the said arm extends. When the contact between the arm and the bottom of the slot 54 occurs the spring 43 will be engaged with the notch 42 and the lever parts 33 and 34 will consequently be set in a normal relationship as illustrated in Fig. 2. From said figure it will be noted that as a result of this resetting the ribbon carrier 29 will be set in a new normal position which is lower than that of the normal position shown in Fig. 1. The new normal position of the printing portion of the ribbon is so far below the printing point (indicated at 22) that even when the pin 47 is at the front of the slot 46 as in Fig. 2 and the operating lever and vibrator receive their greatest throw, the extent of movement communicated to the ribbon is not sufficient to raise it as high as the printing point. Consequently the types will strike the work sheet directly, passing above the printing portion of the ribbon without touching the same. When it is desired to bring the ribbon into use again it is only necessary to restore the ribbon carrier or operating lever to the normal position of Fig. 1, this being readily accomplished by pulling the carrier upward or by pressing upward against the under side of that portion of the arm 33 which protrudes forward of the plate 55. This protruding portion or fork 33 constitutes a hand piece for facilitating the swinging movements of-the lever arm 33. Of course for this purpose more elaborate mechanism may be provided, as for instance, a set of connections extending to a key at the side or front of the framework or even to the key board. This operation swings the part 33 upward about the center 37, causing the spring 43 to reengage with the slot 41 and lifting the ribbon carrier and resetting it in the upper, normal position. In lifting or pressing upward the ribbon carrier or the arm 33 should the frictional resistance of the detent devices 42, 43 be greater than the resistance offered by the link 48, then at first the twopart lever 33, 34 will swing as a whole on the fulcrum 35. Such movement will be limited by the contact of the upper face of the extension 38 with the under side of the top plate 3. After such contact further upward pressure will result only in pivotal movement of the arm 33 about the center 37. This pivotal movement will be limited by the stop pin 39 and when the upper edge of the arm 33 contacts with said stop pin the spring 43 will be engaged with the notch 41. If now, upward pressure be withdrawn from the ribbon carrier or the arm 33 said ribbon carrier will drop downward slightly and the oper ating lever 33, 34 will swing down on its fulcrum 35 to the Fig. 1' position. It will be seen that the stop devices insure a correct setting and resetting of the lever parts 33, 34 and the ribbon carrier 29.

It will be observed that by my present invention I provide improved and simplified devices for accomplishing the desired re sults.

Various changes may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon carrier, means for actuating the same including a two-part operating lever, the two parts being jointed together, and means for maintaining said two parts set inany one of a'plurality of normal relationships to vary the normal position of said carrier, the change in normal position of said carrier taking place independently of the operation of the machine.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a ribbon carrier, means for actuating said carrier including a two-part operating lever, the two parts being pivotally connected, and means for maintaining said two parts set in any one of a plurality of normal relationships to vary the normal position of said carrier with respect to said platen.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a ribbon carrier, means for actuating said carrier including a twopart operating lever, the two parts being pivotally connected, and detent devices variable at will independently of the operation of the machine to change the set relationships of said two parts to vary the normal position of said carrier. V

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a ribbon carrier, means for actuating the same including a two-part operating lever, the two parts being pivotally connected, said parts being relatively shiftable by hand independently of the platen, and means for maintaining said parts set with respect to each other after such shift, thus varying the normal position of said carrier.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon carrier, an arm with which said carrier is pivotally connected, a lever of the first order, said arm being pivoted to one arm of said lever, key controlled actuating devices connected with the other arm of said lever, the normal relationship between said arm and said lever being variable at will independently of the operation of the machine, and means for maintaining said arm and said lever in different normal relationships.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon carrier, an arm with which said carrier is pivotally connected, a lever of the first order, said arm being pivoted to one arm of said lever, key controlled actuating devices connected with the other arm of said lever, the normal relationship between said arm and said lever being variable at will independently of the operation of the machine, and detent devices for maintaining said arm and said lever in said relationships, said devices comprising a spring finger and a cooperating notched part.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon carrier, means for actuating the same including a two-part operating lever, and an actuating link, the normal relationship between the two parts of said operating lever being variable at will independently of the operation of the machine and the point of connection between said actuating link and said operating lever being adapted to be varied so as to vary the extent of throw of the operating lever and ribbon carrier.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon carrier, an operating lever comprising parts relatively movable to change the normal position of said carrier, and means operative on said lever for actuating said carrier from one normal position to present the ribbon to the printing point, said means being operative to move the ribbon carrier from another normal position toward the platen but not far enough to present any portion of the ribbon to the printing point, the parts of the operating lever being maintained in fixed relationship during vibratory movements of the operating lever and ribbon carrier.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York,

and State of New York, this 11th day of July A. D. 1910.

JACOB FELBEL.

Witnesses:

E. M. TELLS, M. W. PooL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

